Service held for clerk killed during liquor store robbery

A line of people, about 20 deep, extended from the open doors of the Galleria A meeting room into the hallway of the Luxor.

Family, friends and co-workers of slain store clerk Matthew Christensen were waiting quietly and patiently, occasionally embracing one another with hugs, for their turn to pay their respects and condolences to Christensen’s family.

“He was a very good person,” said a fellow cashier of Christensen’s, who wished to remain anonymous. “I feel like he was a hero.”

Christensen, 24, died at University Medical Center hours after three armed black men in their 20s caught on tape at the Lee’s Discount Liquor at 8785 W. Warm Springs Road shot him several times about 9:40 p.m. Monday. The men demanded access to the southwest valley store’s safe during the armed robbery — which Christensen couldn’t open — and may have shot him in frustration, police said.

Though Christensen didn’t have access to the safe, Jamie Henderson, his pregnant manager in another part of the store, did.

Instead of outing her, he kept his hands up and his lips sealed, an action his mother called heroic Thursday afternoon.

About 100 people attended the memorial service at the Luxor, said Reggie Christensen, one of his two brothers.

“We weren’t even going to do this, but because of the number of people who have come forward wanting to express their condolences, we decided to let people come and say their last goodbyes,” he said.

Flower bouquets and balloons decorated the room, along with a photo collage showing two childhood pictures, Christensen’s high school graduation photograph and a selfie.

Reggie Christensen said he and his family asked his close friends to share stories about his brother.

“We didn’t want it to be a mourning,” he said. “We wanted it to be just like my brother was — uplifting. He touched a lot of lives. More than I even knew.”

He also expressed gratitude toward the Luxor general manager and her team.

“What they’ve done is above and beyond what we ever imagined,” he said. “We asked for a small little gathering and they went out of their way with flower bouquets and everything. They just really made sure everything was taken care of so we could just show up.”

A GoFundMe account set up by Lee’s Discount Liqour to raise money for memorial expenses had brought in nearly $27,000 as of 6 p.m. Friday, thanks in part to a $10,000 donation from the Lee family.

“It’s really amazing how many people reached out to donate who don’t even know us. We’re receiving so much support,” Reggie Christensen said. “He was just a regular guy doing his job. I think that’s what makes it so emotional for everyone. It could have been your loved one.”

Contact Natalie Bruzda at nbruzda@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3897. Find @NatalieBruzda on Twitter.